Hanging Out With And Getting To Know R5

 

YOU GUYS! I met Ross Lynch and the band R5 last week! You know, that cute guy who plays Austin Moon on Disney Channel’s Austin and Ally? Well, he and his 2 brothers, 1 sister, and 1 friend make up the band R5 and they are touring right now. My family had the opportunity to not only attend their concert, but spend the whole day with them, go backstage after the concert, and were given some R5 swag! How was this possible? Prepare to be envious.

My husband and Stormie Lynch are cousins. Like 1st cousins. And Stormie is the mother to all those beautiful Lynch children that make up the band R5, plus Ryland who isn’t a band member but an awesome DJ who pumps up the crowd before the show. Now before you think we are those cousins who barbecue on weekends and eat Thanksgiving dinner together, know this, my husband has more first cousins than I can keep track of and they don’t see each other often. That being said, my twin sister-in-laws worked in Stormie’s nail salon and babysat for her when they graduated high school, so we know them a little better than other cousins. I digress.

When we heard that R5 was touring and would stop in Sandy, UT, we knew we had to go. Josh’s Aunt Mary called and offered us free tickets and told us we could attend a meet and greet. MY GIRLS ABOUT DIED! We made plans, reserved a hotel room, notified the girl’s school they would be gone for a few days and there was nothing left to do but wait.

The day of the concert we drove 3 hours, checked into the hotel, primped and headed over to the amphitheater to meet the family. We were let in by security and were greeted by Stormie and Aunt Mary. And there they were, those beautiful R5 band members, just walking around casually talking to the family. They had to go to a radio station for a show so we laid out blankets on the grass and tossed around a football. Stormie took us all to the merchandise table and gave everyone a free R5 necklace and let us each pick out a shirt or hat of our choosing! Ryland didn’t go to the radio station so he hung out with us the whole afternoon and was super nice. He made a few comments about how he was JUST like Owen when he was little.

The band came back and lounged on the grass with us. Some tossed around a football with the cousins and a crew member brought a bunch a pizzas for us to share for dinner. We all had family pictures taken in front of the meet and greet sign and talked some more. Soon, it was time for the official meet and greet so we headed to our seats.

The show started with a Q & A session for the meet and greet fans followed by the opening act – Brother and Sister duo, Brandon and Savannah. Ryland pumped up the crowd with his DJ talents and soon R5 was on stage. Their show was amazing! They are very talented performers who interact with the fans. Their music is very catchy and makes you want to dance (which I did in case you were wondering).

After the show, we went backstage to tell them thank you and we headed out the door. Imagine my surprise when I was walking my 4 children out to the gate and heard fans cheering for us! Security told us to get ready and on the count of 3, they cracked the gate and we headed out single file. I had a few fans follow me to ask how we were related. I kept my head down and shouted, “Cousins!” as Josh drove up with the minivan (yes, we are cool that way).

It was a day to remember for sure. I have to admit I was a little star struck and didn’t get to ask some of the questions I had wanted to ask the band. Oh well, maybe next time. Check out R5’s tour dates to see if they will be stopping in a town near you!

If you have no clue who Ross Lynch or R5 are, first of all google them, then watch this…their latest video for their single, Heart Made Up On You.